There are so many choices of laundry detergent these days. So, how do you narrow down your options to the perfect detergent for your family? Here are some factors that you should consider:
FORMULA TYPE
Some brands make it easier for you to choose, by specializing in certain areas that are important to you and your family.
- Brightening: Keeping whites and white colors especially bright can be important for those particular loads. A detergent with brightening power can keep your whites from turning yellow or grey, and can help your lighter colors keep their color, and eliminate stains effectively.
- Gentle: If you have babies, children or people with sensitive skin, allergies or eczema, you might want to look at detergents without dyes or fragrances. These detergents are gentle on the skin, and are appropriate for those who may get itchy from certain ingredients in detergents. People who are sensitive to strong smells / perfumes will also find these to be preferable.
- Fabric Softening: Detergents with fabric softener reduce the extra step of having to use an additional product in your laundry process. The fabric softener is actually part of the detergent, and can make your clothing softener and prevent static electricity.
- Color Safe: Of course you want to keep your bright colors from getting any lighter. Color safe keeps your items in the color they are supposed to be, just as they were when you first bought them!
High-Efficiency Detergent: The trend of washing machines is to use less water than traditional machines, making it High Efficient. You should choose a detergent that is able to rinse and clean well using less water. These detergents can actually be used in any kind of washing machine, but they are specifically designed to be used in high efficiency top or front loading machines. Read your washing machine’s manual to see how to use high efficiency detergent.
Cold Water Detergent: If you’re environmentally friendly, looking to save energy by washing in cold water already, consider a detergent that dissolves well in any temperature, and has been formulated to perform best in cold water.
Eco-friendly Detergent: We use a lot of laundry detergent in our lifetime, so choosing eco friendly detergent, can really make a difference. Keep in mind that there is no official federal standard for using terms like “green” or “eco” in product names or descriptions of laundry detergent. Also, while they may be safe for the environment, because they are not made with certain ingredients they can be less effective at cleaning and removing stains.
The Cleaning Institute
